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The stories near you

• Mainstreet Daily News: DeSantis fills Alachua County commission seat. "Less than two years after losing to former Commissioner Mary Alford in the November 2020 election, Raemi Eagle-Glenn will fill Alford’s vacant seat on the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners."

• Gainesville Sun ($): Bosshardt Realty to pay nearly $1.5M to former associates now battling criminal charges. "An arbitrator is ordering Bosshardt Realty Services to pay near $1.5 million for unpaid commissions to two of its former commercial real estate brokers who are facing felony charges theft of 'trade secrets' from their former employer. Both sides are claiming victory in the ruling by arbitrator Melvia B. Green, which was issued on Wednesday."

• Ocala Gazette: Zalak pens letter to FDEP in support of allowing swimming at Silver Springs State Park. "In a letter dated May 20, 2022, and addressed to Shawn Hamilton, secretary for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) in Tallahassee, County Chair Carl Zalak III expressed his and the Marion County Board of County Commissioner’s support for once again allowing swimming at Silver Springs State Park after more than 50 years."

• WUFT News: Vinyl still spins at Hear Again Records. "Opened in 1994 as a CD and DVD store on West University Avenue, the store has changed locations and ownership. The independent business has not only evolved into the premier record store in Gainesville, but also a hub for music culture downtown."

• Florida Storms: Planning for hurricane season? Don’t forget your pets. "The Florida Division of Emergency Management warns to never leave a pet behind, and instead make a plan for where you can go with your pet."

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Around the state

• Fresh Take Florida: Historic white, Black cemeteries only blocks apart in Panama City tell very different stories. "In the early 1900s, two cemeteries were established in Panama City – one for white residents, the other for African Americans. While the white cemetery is well maintained to this day, the Black burial ground is under a Goodyear tire shop."

• Politico: Florida Supreme Court hears gun law challenge amid national debate over restrictions. "At issue before the state high court is a 2011 law that allows the state to fine local governments and officials thousands of dollars for approving strict gun laws. Local municipalities face fines of up to $100,000 and individual officials $5,000. The state can impose fines on the local lawmaker personally, not in their capacity as a local elected official."

• News Service of Florida: Florida hospital admissions for COVID is up more than 14% over the past week. "Florida in recent weeks has seen steady increases in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, though the numbers remain lower than early in the year."

• Tallahassee Democrat ($)P: Al Lawson and Neal Dunn will face off in November to represent Tallahassee in Congress. "Congressman Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, said Thursday he plans to run as a candidate for the Congressional District 2 seat, setting up a showdown with Panama City Republican Neal Dunn and possibly thwarting Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to paint the Panhandle congressional delegation completely red."

• Miami Herald ($): ‘We have ruled out nothing’: In Surfside condo collapse probe, findings still far away. "A federal investigation into the Champlain Towers South building collapse likely won’t conclude until 2024, about three years after the Surfside disaster in which investigators say they have 'ruled out nothing.'"

• Spectrum News: Survivor's guilt and PTSD: Pulse survivors mark 6 years since the shooting. "Six years after the mass shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub, some who made it out say they live with more than memories of the trauma they endured — they developed PTSD, or continue to harbor deeply rooted survivor’s guilt."

• TCPalm ($): No joke: 1,400-pound great white shark pings off Florida. His 'path' resembles shark drawing. "Florida's coast this time of year is known for being the epicenter of loggerhead sea turtle nesting. The western Atlantic Ocean is where the majority of sea turtles lay their eggs."

From NPR News

• Politics: A Capitol Police officer injured on Jan. 6 recalls the chaos and carnage

• Politics: Liz Cheney offers a stark message to the GOP members who continue to support Trump

• Business: These are some of the ways Americans are adjusting to soaring inflation

• Business: Stakes are high for Ford and the fate of electric cars as F-150 Lightnings leave lots

• Climate: This New Zealand plan would tax burps from cows and sheep

• World: The Saudi-backed LIV Golf tees off, and the PGA Tour quickly suspends 17 players

About today's curator

I'm Ethan Magoc, a news editor at WUFT. Originally from Pennsylvania, I've found a home telling Florida stories. I’m part of a team searching each morning for local and state stories that are important to you; please send feedback about today's edition or ideas for stories we may have missed to emagoc@wuft.org.